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USA Cheer and AACCA Launch CheerSafe Campaign

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Website offers comprehensive library of cheerleading safety information and resources.

Cheer Sage LogoMemphis, Tenn., March 1, 2013 – USA Cheer, the governing body of cheer for the United States, has teamed up with the American Association of Cheerleading Coaches and Administrators (AACCA) to launch CheerSafe.org, the most comprehensive website to date for cheerleading regulation and safety information.

The launch of Cheer Safe.org coincides with National Cheer Safety Month (March), and will include 31 days of safety messaging on Twitter (@cheersafe).

CheerSafe.org is the one source for all cheerleading safety information, from the latest regulations and research to the rules that every team should follow. CheerSafe’s mission is to educate parents, coaches, cheerleaders and administrators on the facts of cheerleading safety at every level – school, college and all star—and to promote and improve cheerleading safety through the involvement of a wide spectrum of organizations in the cheerleading community.

The CheerSafe coalition includes the National Federation of State High School Associations, the National Collegiate Athletic Association, the International Cheer Union, the National Athletic Trainers’ Association and the University Risk Managers and Insurers Association. It is also supported by youth sports organizations, cheer publications and several state athletic associations. “CheerSafe.org will be the perfect online source for educating the entire cheerleading community,” says Bill Seely, the Executive Director of USA Cheer. “In many ways, cheerleading safety can be seen as the model for all athletic activities. The American Association of Cheerleading Coaches and Administrators has been leading the way in cheerleading safety since 1987, with risk management courses and safety guidelines, as well as building relationships with other youth sport organizations.”

Jim Lord, Executive Director of AACCA, has been a tireless safety ambassador for the cheerleading community, and is excited to be working with USA Cheer and other youth sports organizations to continue improving safety conditions for cheerleaders. “I know that CheerSafe will resonate throughout the cheerleading community,” says Lord. “CheerSafe members are united in a three-prong approach to safety: that every cheerleading team be trained under the direction of a knowledgeable coach; that the cheerleading team follows established safety rules; and that they have an emergency plan in place.”

The website provides information on where cheerleading coaches can receive training in person and online, safety guidelines for all states and sample emergency plans. It also invites cheerleaders and coaches to participate in the iCheerSafe pledge.

For more information, visit cheersafe.org, or contact Sheila Noone, media@usacheer.net.

USA CheerAbout USA Cheer

The USA Federation for Sport Cheering is a not-for profit organization and is the national governing body for all disciplines of cheerleading. USA Cheer exists to serve the entire cheer community, including club cheering (All Star), traditional school based cheer programs and the new sport of STUNT. USA Cheer has three primary objectives: help grow and develop interest and participation in Cheer throughout the United States; promote safety and safety education for cheer in the United States; and represent the United States of America in international cheer competitions.

AACCA LogoAbout AACCA

The American Association of Cheerleading Coaches and Administrators represents more than 20,000 cheerleading coaches and is the leading advocates of cheerleading safety in the U.S. AACCA is the most recognized source for cheerleading safety education. The AACCA manual, composed by a team of doctors, lawyers, cheerleading industry professionals and Gerald S. George, PhD, has been endorsed by the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, the University Risk Management and Insurance Association, the Women’s Sports Foundation and the National Athletic Trainers’ Association, as well as the NCAA and NFHS.

The Business of Cheer

Varsity LogoFortune published The Business of Cheer.

Last year Varsity hit $300 million in revenue, an 8% increase over 2010. The company now boasts over 20 brands — from apparel lines to national competitions at Disney’s Magic Kingdom to American Cheerleader magazine — and merged with class ring manufacturer Herff Jones in June 2011. Nearly every uniform sold or camp attended by high school or college cheerleaders is part of Varsity’s vast empire of pep. So where does it go from here?

On the Eve of Title IX’s 40th Anniversary, the Age Old Question Might Finally be Answered

As Title IX celebrates its 40th Anniversary and counts its wins for women’s sports, a new sport is ready to join the ranks.

Memphis, Tenn., June 19, 2012 – Cheerleading, which predates Title IX by roughly 60 years, has long been an athletic outlet for women. Once primarily a men’s activity, female cheerleaders quickly took over the sidelines during World War II, and never left.

USA CheerIt’s a question as old as Title IX itself – Is Cheerleading A Sport? Every year, the physical abilities of cheerleaders are showcased on ESPN and CBS Sports, and now a new sport, STUNT, is vying for Emerging Sport Status from the NCAA. STUNT is about to launch its third season, with a roster that has averaged 22 teams in the last two years.

As a more athletic and challenging style of cheerleading developed, the need for a new form emerged, one that would allow the talented athletes of cheerleading to take their place among the top athletes in the country.

“STUNT has evolved out of a need to develop a format derived from traditional cheerleading that fulfills all requirements of Title IX,” says Bill Seely, Executive Director of USA Cheer, the governing body for cheerleading and the creator of STUNT. “It’s important to ensure a clear distinction between the various athletic disciplines of cheerleading and the roles they play. Traditional cheerleading provides such great value for the institutions they serve and we want to protect that, while at the same time continue to grow cheer’s newest sport, STUNT, which will provide more opportunities for young women and help institutions meet the criteria of Title IX.”

STUNT has been well received by pioneers of women’s sports, who applaud the efforts of USA Cheer to create more opportunities for female athletes to compete. “The Women’s Sports Foundation welcomes the new sport of STUNT into the women’s sports tent, along with other aesthetic sports like gymnastics, diving and some skiing and snowboarding events,” says Nancy Hogshead-Makar, Senior Director of Advocacy for the Women’s Sports Foundation.”STUNT is developing to ensure girls and women are being provided the same educational experience that boys receive, with comparable numbers of competitions, squad sizes, scholarships, and a standard competitive format.”

More information about USA Cheer and STUNT can be found at http://usacheer.net. If you have further questions, please contact Sheila Noone at 901-251-5959.

About the STUNT format

Each STUNT game will comprise four quarters in the following categories: Partner Stunts, Pyramids and Tosses, Group Jumps and Tumbling, and Team Performance. Within each quarter, teams will perform skill sequences of varying levels of difficulty, technical execution and synchronization. Anyone who follows sports will be able to follow STUNT. Teams compete simultaneously, and the head-to-head format simplifies the scoring process, allowing fans to track the results of the competition as each round is completed. Because of the new format, teams will have records and national rankings, which will determine their post season play, much like other sports. In addition, post season play can be tracked by the fans, much like “March Madness.” For more information on STUNT, visit http://usacheer.net.

About USA Cheer

The USA Federation for Sport Cheering is a not-for profit organization and is the national governing body for all disciplines of cheerleading. USA Cheer exists to serve the entire cheer community, including club cheering (All Star), traditional school based cheer programs and the new sport of STUNT. USA Cheer has three primary objectives: help grow and develop interest and participation in Cheer throughout the United States; promote safety and safety education for cheer in the United States; and represent the United States of America in international cheer competitions.

The College Stunt Association Announces Season Two All Americans

Memphis, Tenn., (May 31, 2012) – The College STUNT Association, under the leadership of USA Cheer, has announced this seasons All Americans.

USA CheerThis year’s 2012 STUNT All Americans were selected by a committee of coaches from various regions along with two STUNT officials. Nominees for All American need to exhibit superior skills and techniques as well as good game sense and knowledge of STUNT, and be in good academic standing. They also needed to have participated in at least half of the games or tournaments for at least 50 percent of the routines.

“We were extremely impressed with the athleticism of our STUNT All Americans,” says Bill Seely, Executive Director of USA Cheer. “They played a major role in the success of their teams and presented our sport with dignity and grace. As STUNT progresses we are proud to salute the talented athletes who make up our sport.”

Twenty, First Team All Americans were chosen for the 2012 season of STUNT, along with ten Second Team All Americans. More information can be found on http://collegestunt.org.

2011-12 STUNT All American First Team

Name Position Year City, ST University
Michelle Bowles Top Sophomore Toledo, OH Bowling Green State University
Aisha Brandon Top Senior Columbus, OH University of Louisville
Chelsea Campbell Top Junior Tampa, FL Florida State
Kylie Groves Base Sophomore City Heights, CA Sierra College
Danielle Keathley Top Junior The Woodlands, TX Sam Houston State University
Molly Kirkpatrick Top Sophomore Winterville, NC South Carolina
Erica Levy Top Sophomore Marietta, GA South Carolina
Conice Leverett Base Junior College Park, GA Georgia Southern
Sydney Lewis Backspot Junior Artesia, NM Texas A&M
Katie Loos Base Senior Ashburn, VA University of Louisville
Kelsey Morris Top Freshman Elverta, CA Sierra College
Ashlee Newsome Top Freshman McDonough, GA Georgia Southern
Savannah Owen Base Senior Edmond, OK Oklahoma City University
Abbey Pilgrim Top/
Backspot		 Freshman Englewood, OH Bowling Green State University
Lisa Reichardt Top Senior Norman, OK Oklahoma City University
Michelle Smith Top Sophomore Edmond, OK Oklahoma State University
Myranda Stout Base Sophomore Edmond, OK Oklahoma State University
Kaylor Strayhorn Base Senior Friendswood, TX Texas A&M
Sara Treser Base Junior Roscoe, PA West Virginia University
Autumn Veuleman Base Senior Foyil, OK Central Oklahoma 

2011-12 STUNT All American Second Team

Name Position Year City, ST University
Taylor Arlis Top Senior Batavia, IL University of Illinois
Christina Armstrong Backspot Freshman Burbank, CA Glendale College
Ciara Avringer Backspot Senior Canton, GA University of Georgia
Melanie Bartamian Base Freshman Burbank, CA Glendale College
Rayven Bridges Base Junior Hallsville, TX Sam Houston State University
Libby Cervantes Top Senior Oswego, IL University of Illinois
Jennifer Groff Base Sophomore Baltimore, MD West Virginia University
Taylor Hodges Base/ Top Freshman Tampa, FL Florida State
Desiree Maw Backspot Senior Del City, OK Central Oklahoma
Katie Mercer Base Senior Warner Robins, GA University of Georgia

About the Format

STUNT follows a game format with four quarters, including a short half time. These quarters include Partner Stunts, Group Jumps & Tumbling, Pyramids & Tosses, and Team Performance. Players wear uniforms that identify them by number. Within each quarter, teams perform skill sequences of varying levels of difficulty, technical execution and synchronization. The fourth quarter is the “Team Performance” which allows teams to incorporate their entire team’s arsenal into a choreographed routine. Two to six teams compete simultaneously in head-to-head competition.

Cheerleaders, coaches, and parents can visit http://collegestunt.org to learn more about STUNT, the College STUNT Association and its initiatives.

About USA Cheer

The USA Federation for Sport Cheering is a not-for profit organization and is the national governing body for all disciplines of cheerleading. USA Cheer exists to serve the entire cheer community, including club cheering (All Star), traditional school based cheer programs and the new sport of “STUNT.” USA Cheer has three primary objectives: help grow and develop interest and participation in Cheer throughout the United States; promote safety and safety education for cheer in the United States; and represent the United States of America in international cheer competitions.

For more information, contact Sheila Noone at 901-251-5959.

The College Stunt Association Announces Season Two All Americans

2012 Team USA

USA Cheer announced the 2012 Team USA members. Congratulations and Good Luck!

USA CheerAll Girl

  • Amanda Pearson
  • Genevieve Sell
  • Kelly Clifford
  • Nancy Miceli
  • Angela Stillwell
  • Caitlyn Hinshaw
  • Kirby Lynch
  • Courtney Byrne
  • Aisha Brandon
  • Lindsey Sitzler
  • Maria D’Addeo
  • Molly Harrold
  • Katie Loos
  • Kaysie Hanle
  • Megan Klien
  • Meghan Jones
  • Amanda Scripture
  • Felicia Bordonaro
  • Jamie Piccione
  • Natalie Skizas
  • Amy Leet
  • Bethany Victorino
  • Jacqueline Jeffries
  • Stephanie Bibby
  • Michelle Woodward
  • Lexie Skipper
  • Kelly McGrory
  • Madeline Jenne
  • Mallory Mingus
  • Chelsey Kannan

Coed

  • Allison Greer
  • Caitlin Seabrook
  • Courtney Shobe
  • Brittany Maynard
  • Azaria Bermudez
  • Lauren Grady
  • Sara Masters
  • Summer Hill
  • Bethany Jackson
  • Ryan Martin
  • Malyssa-Lin Barbasa
  • Anthony Reisch
  • Brad Weber
  • Jason Keogh
  • Jeremy Lumpkin
  • Mitch Budlong
  • Patrick Miller
  • Dishon Clark
  • Matt Ramirez
  • Kelvin Lam
  • Ozell Williams
  • Rob Ellery
  • Trey Forsyth
  • Josh Gallia
  • Jordan Olson
  • Tony Crump